Undercover DHS surveillance targeted Twin Cities unions, churches
Court filings in the federal case against Isaac Sant reveal the Department of Homeland Security used undercover operations to surveil Twin Cities churches, labor unions and activists during Operation Metro Surge.[1]
The filings say undercover agents attended a meeting at a Minneapolis public library, infiltrated a Roseville anti-ICE meeting and joined a Signal chat used to track ICE activity.[1] The papers say agents wore wires to record meetings, ran license plates outside a meeting and used artificial intelligence to search for protesters' photos.[1] A DHS slide titled "The Conspiracy" links the Minnesota AFL-CIO and other unions and activist groups to Direct Action Minnesota, and federal prosecutors have charged 15 people in the case; all have pleaded not guilty.[1] Attorney Kevin Riach says DHS improperly investigated First Amendment activity without evidence of a crime and is asking a judge to compel release of all related DHS reports.[1]
Court filings identify two DHS operations, "Operation Puppet Master" and "Project Whipple Shield," as part of the Metro Surge activity described in the filings.[1] Minnesota AFL-CIO leaders say they were targeted for supporting immigrant members during Metro Surge and are demanding full transparency about the scope of federal surveillance in Minnesota.[1]
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📌 Key Facts
- Court filings in the federal case against Isaac Sant reveal DHS operations 'Operation Puppet Master' and 'Project Whipple Shield' surveilled churches, labor unions and activists during Operation Metro Surge.
- Undercover agents attended a meeting at a Minneapolis public library, infiltrated a Roseville anti-ICE meeting, joined a Signal chat tracking ICE, wore wires to record meetings, ran license plates outside a meeting and used AI to search for protestor photos.
- A DHS slide titled 'The Conspiracy' links the Minnesota AFL-CIO and other unions and activist organizations to Direct Action Minnesota, while 15 defendants face federal conspiracy charges but have pleaded not guilty.
- Attorney Kevin Riach argues DHS improperly investigated First Amendment activity without evidence of crime and is asking the court to compel release of all related DHS reports.
- Minnesota AFL-CIO leaders say they were targeted for supporting immigrant members during Metro Surge and are now calling for full transparency about the depth of federal surveillance in Minnesota.
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